Rangers pullout a win in the fourth quarter

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By Andy Barrand

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Andy Barrand

Posted Feb. 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Andy Barrand
Posted Feb. 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net

JONESVILLE — The Jonesville Varsity Girls’ Basketball team played nearly 27 minutes of winning basketball Thursday night as they had county rival Reading on its heels for the better part of three quarters.

Unfortunately for the Comets the game is 32 minutes long though.

Reading sophomore Jami Hubbard gave the Rangers the lead with 4:21 to play in the fourth quarter on a layup. She was fouled on the play and converted her free-throw to give the Rangers a 35-32 lead.

Reading didn’t look back from there as they went on to outscore the Comets 12-4 in the final four minutes of the game.

“I can’t fault our girls for the effort tonight,” Jonesville coach Tom Dunn said. “They played three and a half quarters of good defense.”

The Comets got out on an early lead against the Rangers outscoring them 11-4 in the first quarter. Reading didn’t get on the scoreboard until the 7:44 mark of the first quarter when Hubbard scored on a contested shot underneath the basket.

The two teams played even in the second quarter both putting in seven points, and close to even in the third as Jonesville outscored the Rangers 13-11.

Reading coach Ryan Mulnix said he thought his girls got out hustled in the first half. At halftime he said he challenged the girls to come out and hustle.

“We are starting to become a fourth quarter team,” Mulnix said. “We are a young team and the girls are starting to trust one another. That is a good sign of things to come.”

As the season draws closer to districts, Dunn said his team is just trying to get better each game.

“Districts are a whole new season,” he said.

After the game Mulnix complemented Dunn and his team for the effort they showed Thursday night.

“He always has his team ready to play us,” Mulnix said. “His girls played a hard game, hats off to him.”

The Rangers were led by two players in double figures Hubbard with 15 and Brittany Marquart with 10. Michelle Davis and Taylor Cole came close to breaking into double figures with nine points apiece.

Ashley McCarley and Jenny Davis rounded out the scoring for the Rangers with two points apiece.

Jonesville was led by Kalie Spencer with eight points. The rest of the scoring was Hannah Smith with four, Calin Deck with two, Emily Dawson with five, Taylor Dunn with six, Olivia Newell with two and Aubrey Wilson with two.

The win brings the Rangers record to 10-7 (7-5) they will play Concord next Thursday. The Comets are now 4-14 (1-11) on the season and will host Springport next Thursday.